“The best introduction to Etruscan
religion currently available.”
Christopher Smith, American Journal of Archaeology

This lively translation of Devins, Dieux
et Démons is the first English-language edition of
Jean-René Jannot’s highly informative examination of Etruscan
religion. Jannot tackles this elusive subject within three major
constructsdeath, ritual, and the nature of the godsand
presents recent discoveries in an accessible format. Jane K.
Whitehead’s translation updates Jannot’s innovative text and
introduces readers of all typesstudents, scholars, and
the general audienceto this thorough overview of ancient
Etruscan beliefs, including the afterlife, funerary customs,
and mythology.

Provocative insights and thoughtful discussions contribute to
an understanding of the prophetic nature of Etruscan culture.
Jannot investigates the elaborate systems of defining space and
time that so distinctly characterize this ancient society. Jannot
offers a unique perspective that illuminates the origins of some
of our own “modern” religious beliefs.
This updated edition includes more than 100 illustrations that
depict early temples, statues, mirrors, tablets, and sculptures.

Jean-René Jannot is professor emeritus of history and archaeology
at the University of Nantes, France. Jane K. Whitehead is assistant professor at Valdosta State University and director
of the La Piana excavation in Italy.

Praise:

“The up-to-date references in the footnotes support a text that explains in detail—using the available evidence of artistic and archaeological monuments, inscriptions, and later literature—the ideas and practice of what was, in the eyes of the Romans and no doubt in real life, the Etruscans’ greatest technical expertise.”—Larissa Bonfante, Etruscan Studies

“Extremely interesting, beautifully researched and current, making full use of recently discovered monuments and the latest interpretations of artifacts and texts.”
—Richard Daniel De Puma, University of Iowa, series editor

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